UN alarmed by Congo violence as govt steps up election security

KINSHASA: The UN human rights chief on Friday called on Congolese authorities to halt violence and inflammatory speech ahead of the country’s Dec 23 presidential election, while government said it was beefing up security for the vote. Campaigning for the poll to choose President Kabila’s successor had been mostly peaceful until this week, when security forces opened fire to disperse opposition gatherings and a fire in the capital Kinshasa destroyed thousands of voting machines. (Reuters)